Tape condenser



" H. Moss TAPE CONDENSER April 14, 1942.

Filed Dec. 23, 1940 I||lllllllllllllllllll llllllllll lfiillllll llllll INVENTOR.

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Patented Apr. 14, 1942 illiiifli :j'il' ice 6 Glaims. 19151) This invention relatesto tape condensers or siinilar machines inwhich a web of fiber is delivered from a card or other web-forming mechanism to a pair of dividing rolls which are alternately grooved and ribbed and which are provided with tapes which cross and alternately diverge as they pass between the dividing rolls. The diverging tapes separate the web by a scissors action into a plurality of parallel slivers which are delivered alternately to upper and lower pairs of rubbing aprons and which are formed thereby into separate rovings.

This general type of machine is old and wellknown in the art but is objectionable in one respect when the web-supplied to the machine contains fibers which are substantially longer than the width of the tapes. In this event, a certainnumber of the long fibers will be simultaneously grasped by adjacent tapes and will comprise portions of two adjacent slivers which are moving in sharply'diverging paths. These long fibers must then be broken or must be pulled endwise out of one of the slivers, and this action will take place at a point which is substantially spaced from the normal dividing point of the web. Uneven and irregular slivers are thereby produced, with resulting irregular roving.

It is the general object of my present invention to provide improved means to complete the separation of adjacent slivers at a point very closely adjacent the normal dividing point, even when long fibers are present in the web.

A further object is to provide means by which long fibers will be firmly gripped at one end and pulled out with one sliver, While separation of the other end from an adjacent sliver is simultaneously facilitated. My improved separating means also supports the adjacent sliver as the long fibers .are removed therefrom and effectually prevents distortion or displacement of either sliver.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional sideelevation of a tape condenser, with my improvements embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of certain parts shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 2.

-Referring to Fig. 1, I have show-n partsflof a tape condenser of a usual andwell kn'own form and-comprising a pair of dividing rolls l0 and H mounted-in fixed bearings in a frame 12 adjacent a cylinder l4 forming part of .a card or other web-forming mechanism. The web W is removed from the cylinder 14 by the usual vibrating comb and is delivered direct to-the dividing rolls i0 and drawn rearward and between the rolls. 1

These tapes T and T areso guided that each tape approaches the dividing rolls i9 and H from one direction and leaves the rolls in a different direction. Thus one set of tapes, as T, will approach the dividing rolls from above around a guide-roll '28 and will leave the dividing rolls in a downward direction and pass around a lower guide-roll 2!, while a set of adjacent tapes, as T, will approach the dividing rolls from below around a lower guide-M11122 and will leave the dividing .rolls in an upward direction and .pass around an upper guide-roll 23.

Consequently, there is a cutting or scissors action between each pair of adjacent tapes. Part a of the fibers will be gripped between the tapesT and the lower roll all and will be carried downward, while the remaining fibers will be gripped between the tapes T and the upper roll I0 and will be carried upward. Separate parallel slivers Sand S are thus produced, which are then delivered to pairs of rubbing aprons-30, by which they are formed into rovings R which are wound on rolls or spools 32.

The mechanism thus fardescribed is of a usual commercial construction and in itself involves no essential novelty.

As the adjacent slivers S .and S are carried away from the dividingpoint P (Fig. .2)' by the tapes T and T, any fibers F which substantially exceed in length the width of the tapes maybe gripped at both ends, and the ends will be drawn apart as indicated in Fig. 2.

It is desirable to separate such long fibers from one sliver or the other as promptly as possible. For this purpose I provide an improved separating device comprising a roll 40 extending across the machine behind the dividing rolls I0 and l l and supported in bearings M which are adjustably mounted on the frame I! of the machine. The roll 40 is preferably a smooth cylindrical roll of uniform diameter and is to be so adjusted that it will be engaged and rotated by the tapes T on the lower roll H as the tapes leave the dividing point P. The roll 40 is also so adjusted that it will rotate very close to the tapes T on the upper roll l but with very slight clearance relative thereto.

As the roll 40 is rotated by contact with the tapes T on the lower roll II, the adjacent surfaces of the roll 40 and tapes T travel in the same direction, while adjacent surfaces of the roll 40 and the tapes T travel in opposite directions. The eflect of the roll 40 is thus to grip the lower ends of the long fibers F more firmly between the tapes T and the ribs I! on the lowerroll H and to pull these long fibers downward out of the slivers S which are being carried upward by the tapes T. Moreover, this separation is effected at a point very closely adjacent the dlVldlIlg point P.

The roll 40 also prevents any substantial displacement of the upper tapes T or the slivers S being transported thereby by the pull of the long fibers, as only very slight outward displacement of the tapes T can take place before the tapes are engaged and held firmly in place by the roll 40. The roll 40 is preferably made as small in diameter as will provide the necessary stiffness, so that the roll may engage the long fibers Fas close as possible to the normal dividing point P. It is obviously immaterial whether the roll 40 engages the tapes T and slightly clears the tapes T', or engages the tapes T and clears the tapes T.

The roll 40 is found to be more effective than other devices, such'as fixed knives, which have been previously used. The knives must be kept sharpened to operate as intended while the rolls require no attention whatever. Furthermore, a rotating roll continually clears itself of lint, which has a marked tendency to accumulate on any stationary object.

While my improvement is simple, it has been found in actual use to be remarkably effective for its intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In a tape condenser having alternately ribbed and grooved dividing rolls and having a plurality of tapes passing between said rolls and crossing each other in alternately diverging paths as they leave said rolls, that improvement which comprises a cylindrical roll mounted closely adjacent the dividing point between said dividing rolls and coacting with both sets of tapes, said cylindrical roll being rotationally driven to present a cylindrical surface engaging and moving with the set of tapes diverging in one path and adjacent but slightly clearing and moving opposite to the set of tapes diverging in the other path, whereby the tapes of said second set are left rotationally free by said roll but are limited in outward displacement thereby.

2. In a tape condenser having alternately ribbed and grooved dividing rolls and having a plurality of tapes passing between said rolls and crossing each other in alternately diverging paths as they leave said rolls, that improvement which comprises a cylindrical roll mounted closely adjacent the dividing point between said dividing rolls and rotationally driven by engagement with the set of tapes diverging in one path to present a cylindrical surface engaging and moving with said set of tapes, said cylindrical roll being also adjacent but slightly clearing the set of tapes diverging in the other path and presenting a surface moving opposite to said latter set of tapes.

3. In a tape condenser having alternately ribbed and grooved dividing rolls and having a plurality of tapes passing between said rolls and crossing each other in alternately diverging paths as they leave said rolls, that improvement which comprises a cylindrical roll rotatably mounted in fixed bearings and positioned for driving engagement by one set of tapes leaving said dividing rolls and positioned to have slight clearance relative to the other set of tapes leaving said dividing rolls.

4. In a tape condenser having alternately ribbed and grooved dividing rolls and having a plurality of tapes passing between said rolls and crossing each other in alternately diverging paths as they leave said rolls, that improvement which comprises a cylindrical roll rotatably mounted in fixed bearings and positioned for driving engagement by one set of tapes leaving said dividing rolls and positioned to have slight clearance relative to the other set of tapes leaving said dividing rolls, said cylindrical roll being of relatively small diameter and being mounted closely adjacent the dividing point between said dividing rolls.

5. In a tape condenser, a pair of alternately ribbed and grooved dividing rolls, a plurality of tapes passing between said rolls and crossing each other in alternately diverging paths as they leave said rolls, and a small cylindrical roll rotatably mounted in fixed bearings and positioned for driving engagement by one set of tapes leaving the dividing rolls and positioned to have slight clearance relative to the other set of tapes leaving said dividing rolls.

6.,In a tape condenser, a pair of alternately ribbed and grooved dividing rolls, a plurality of tapes passing between said rolls and crossing each other in alternately diverging paths as they leave said rolls, and a cylindrical roll rotatably mounted in fixed bearings and positioned for driving engagement by one set of tapes leaving the dividing rolls and positioned to have slight clearance relative to the other set of tapes leaving said dividing rolls, said cylindrical roll being of relatively small diameter and being mounted closely adjacent the dividing point between said dividing rolls.

HARRY MOSS. 

